Rotary can opener



Oct. 24, 1944. McLEAN 2,361,114

ROTARY CAN OPENER Filed April '7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 40 ROBERT E. /7LEH/V grwcwvbom Oct. 24,1944. R. E. M LEAN 2,361,114

ROTARY CAN OPENER Filed April '7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 24-, 1944 I retain UNITED STATES PATENT QFF-ICE ROTARY OPENER Robert E. McLean, Fort Benning, Ga. Application April 7, 1944,.Serial No. 529,974

15 Claims. v(o1. 30-15) This invention relates generally'tothe class of can openers and pertains particularly to improvements in can openers of the rotary type.

A rincipal object of the present invention is to provide an improved rotary type can opener having an oscillatable knife carrying head, with a'novel gear coupling means between the head and a driving handle or crank wherein automatic release of the connection between the driving handle and knifecarrying head is efiected when the head has been oscillated to working position, whereby continual turning or rotation of the handle may then be carried on'for the turning of a driving wheel which has driving connection 1 with the can, to effect the turning of the can with respect to the knife and the Cutting out of the can head. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved rotary type can opener having an oscillatable knife carrying head, with a novel gear coupling means between the'head and a driving handle or crank wherein automatic reengagement of the connection between the driving handle and knife carrying head is effected, after the head has been oscillated to working position and connection released to provide for continual clockwise turning or rotation of the handle, to release the can from the device and prepare the device for reception of the next can.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an'improved rotary type can opener having the, above described features, which is compact, exceptionally easy to operate and inexpensive to manufacture.

.bemade in the invention so long as such changes mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the right hand or handle side of one embodiment of the present invention, the handle being removed.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the can side or left side of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is atop plan view of the same. vFigure lis a'vertical central section takensub- 'stantially-upon the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 illustrates the application of the embodiment of the invention of the foregoing-figuresas applied to a wall bracket and operated by acranktype handle. 4

Figure 6 "is a vertical longitudinal section through :another embodiment of the invention, thexsection being substantially upon the line fi -E of Figure "7.

Figure 7 is a view in elevation of the left hand sideo'f'the second embodiment.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings'it willbe noticed upon reference tomy' prior application Ser. No. 518,760, filed Jan. 18,1944,

that the opener of the prese'ntinvention issomewhat similar in operation .to that illustrated in Figures llto 150i such-application; 1- 'The principaldiflerence in construction lies in the means fo positively effecting theclockwise and counterclockwise turning of "the "knife carrying head.

Th'eembodim-ent of the-invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 is the sameas that illustrated in Figure 5 but in the first mentionedkfigures the device is designed to be held in the .hand "for application to acan-while in Figure 5 it is shown mounted upon a supporting bracket which may bezattached to a'wall or other suitable support. The bodypla'te forthe embodiment shown in Figures 1 to '4inclusiveis generally designated Ill and this plate has at its bottom end the laterally extending can guard flange l-l While its -top end is flat part way across 'from'the forward edgeis indicated .at 12 and rounded toward the back edge as indicated at it! pFormed integrally with the front and rear edges of the "body'plate 'ID are the can engaging fingers "-Mand I5-respectively. These fingers cooperate with the can guard flange I l to maintain the body 'inthe proper position upon a can, the flange 'l-I abutting the side wall of the canwhile the fingers I4 and I5 engage across'the top edge thereof.

' 'Overlyingthetop of the'body plate ill is a head memberwhich is generally designated It. This head issubstantally U shaped'and comprises the flatspaced parallel portions I! and I8 which are connected bythe intermediate yoke portion l 9.

Threaded in the body plate I!) to extend from theside thereof opposite from the can guard-ll, is a'pivot screw 20 which has-the portion of small diameter at its end as indicated at -2l, which is threaded into a suitablathreaded aperture in the body I0, and between this portion 2| and the head, is divided'into the two bearing portions 22 and2-3.

The side ll of the Ushaped head lfilies upon the outer sideof the-body plate in remote from the guard II and is oscillatably mounted upon the intermediate bearing portion 22 as is clearly shown in Figure 4. The yoke portion 19 of the head lies relatively close to the top edge l2 of the body so that the oscillation of the head counterclockwise is limited to a vertical position through the engagement of the'yoke with the top edge of the body. Oscillation clockwise of the head to a predetermined extent, is permitted by reason of the curved edge portion [3 of the bodyplate.

Upon the inner side of the side portion l8 of the head is located the cutter :24 which is secured in position by means ofscrews 25 or in any other suitable manner. However, if desired,

this cutter may be formed as an integral part of the side portion l8, therefore it is to be understood that such construction is contemplated in defining the implement as comprising an oscillatable head and a cutter carried thereby.

The numeral 26 designates a gear sector plate which is provided with a bearing opening 21 to Formed integrally with the plate 26 at the bottom rear corner is the gear sector 3| which. when the head is in upright or fully operative position lies to the rear of the lon itudinal center of the implement, as shown in Figure l.

Upon the longitudinal centerof the body plate below the bearing screw 20 there is formed a hearing or journal opening 3lb through which extends the shaft 32.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig- I ures 1 to 4 inclusivathis shaft 32 is formed integrally w th a thumb and finger handle 33 but in the bracket mounted or supported form of the invention shown in Figure 5 the shaft. des gnated 32a, has attached thereto a crank arm or han-' dle 33a.-

Also in the form of the invention shown in Figure 5, the body plate is designated Illa and is secured by rivets 34 to a bracket arm 35 which may be mounted upon or secured to a wall or any other suitable support. Except. for these differencesjthe implement shown in F'gure 5 is of the same desi n as shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

' The shaft 32 is of reduced size from its free end through the major portion of its length whereby there is formed'the shoulder 36. Secured to the receive the bearing portion 23 01 the pivot or reduced por ion of the shaft is a gear pinon 37 wh ch is adjacent to the shoulder 36, a toothed driving'wheel 38 which is upon the opposite side of the body plate from the gear pinion 31 and at the free end of the shaft, and the journal 39 which is positioned within the bearing opening 3") of the body plate as shown in Fgure 4.

' The gear pinion 31 is in the plane'of the gear sector. plate 26 and is adapted for operative coupling with this sector 'to effect the clockwise turning'of the knife carrying head l3, for the purthe knife to inoperative posipose of oscillating tion or what may better be termed the full release position. i

The driving wheel 38 lies inside the knife or cutter 24 or between the cutter and the body plate'the' toothed periphery of the driving wheel overlapping the lower end edge of the knife and lying in close-proximity to the inner face thereof as is clearly shown in Figure 4.

Mounted upon the shaft 32 at each end of the journal sleeve 39 is a thrust washer 40. These washers maintain the gear pinion and the driving wheel in properly spaced relation .with respect to the body plate and the journal, as will be readily apparent.

Inthe form of the invention as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the gear sector plate is designated 26a and lies between a portion of the head which is designated Hill, and the body plate Hlb.

' The head lBa has the horizontal yoke portion 19d which atone end is connected with the depending side portion lla while at its other end it is joined'to the upstanding side portion 18a. This upstanding side portion I8a of the head has secured thereto, by means of the securing elements 2511, the cutter 24a.

. Extendin 'through the upper end of the body plate lb, is the pivot shaft 22a, upon which is mounted at its ends, the journals 4! and 42.

.The journal 42 is of slightly smaller diameter at its outer end than at its inner end and the outer end ,of the journal extends'through a suitable bearing aperture -43 in aside portion I'Ia of the head while the larger inner end portion of the journal is positions-din a suitable bearing aperture 44 in the gear sector plate 26a. These two portions of the journal 42 are of a length slightly greater than the width of .the plates through which they extend so that these parts are maintained suitably spaced for free oscillatory movement upon the journal.

- .The sector plate in addition to having the gear sector 3la formed integrally therewith, carries the upstanding stop wings 28a and 29a which correspond to the wings 28 and 29 of the first described embodiment. These stops or wings extend upwardly a sufiicient distance to engage against the adjacent edges of the intermediate or yoke portion I9a of the head after a slight oscillation of the sector plate has taken place, so as to force the head and the cutter carried thereby to turn with the sector plate;

As in the case of the first described embodiment, the cutter 24a may, instead of being a separate unit from the head, be formed as an integral part thereof, in which case, it would not extend above the yoke portion I90 as it is now il lustratedn The cutter 24a is provided with a bearing opening 45 in which is engaged the reduced outer end portion of the journal M. -This connection between the cutte and the journal permits the cutter to be forced away from the driving wheel, when necessary, such as when passing the seam of the can, when the driving wheel, here designated 33a, is'in driving connection with the can rim. The head "5a is constructed to have sufficient resiliency to permit such lateral movement of the cutter.

The numeral 321) designates the shaft for the driving handle, a portion only of which is illustrated, the same being designated 33b.

This shaft, like the shaft 32, has a shoulder 36d and has secured thereto a gear pinion 31a which is adjacent to the shoulder, and the journal sleeve 390: which lies in the bearing opening of the body plate lllb as shown in Figure 6. This journal sleeve forms the separating means between the gear pinion 31a and the driving wheel 38a, the journal being of a length slightly greater than the thickness of the plate 10b so as to exregaaurrq aend 'beyond the opposite sides thereof as' illusitrated.

. liikeithebodyrplate ill], the :plate tb has; a :can guard lI:-l-*b:at=its lowersen-d and-fthe can en- ;gaging fingers H l-wand Mia.

:In :the [operation :of the -.-device, reference being ihad particularlyfto ttheiembodimen't as illustrated Eigures :1 :to 4 ainolusive :although it will the zre adily :apparent that the description applies :to

Figures 5 if) inclusive, if :the head -:I6 is-not "in atheifullirelease, :or ae'xtreme:claokwisegposition, as zshown in Eigure 5,, zthexoperating handle, 33, 133a, tor 133b, vsis rotated rcountereclockwise ".until "the head is in such position. If :desirednthe {device :may be :so'rconstructedethat :no portion rof (the lower :-end of the *cutter blade :24 .Ma, IDIO- -:-.tr.udes :beneath :the horizontal plane mt zth'e flower redgeslof the fingers M and :P5,:or :tia :ancl Pia, when the lhead is :in the extreme clockwise posirtion. The :device is :then placed on the :rimpr- (flange .of the 031150 that the zfingers :rest ithereon sand the'icanguard :and the iinnertand supperzedge ,of the .driving :wheel ,38 :are against :the Side :of .thetoannnot shown. While v.heldl-in this position the "handle :33 v-is ,rotated clockwise. ,Inasmuch as r '-.the teeth of the :gear 131111011 3-1 are tin-mesh .the 'teeth .of the -gear :seotor .31, :such {clockwise rotation -,of the gear pinion -.will cause-the ;plate :25.to.oscillatelcountereclockwise.on its,piv, otqsorew ,Qnpin .20 until the the .position illustrated in Figure :1. It :will :be .seenrthat when the plate 26 hasarrived at this ,nos'ition, Iurther ,counter-clockwise rotation of the.head t6 .on,itspivot-screwrorpin 21!, is prevented by engagement of the horizontal mortion oyyoke aL9 .of the ,head with (the forward part :Of lhori zontal .top=,e.dge [2 of the upperwend .of .the .body ,plate 10. 1 I .It will he seen .that the head L6 was-caused :with

.to.rotate,oountereclockwise by-en gementtherewith of the turned over portionor wing 2.9 atrthe rear. of theplateor flange 3.0 which iormsia part of the plate 25., During [this loscillationrof the head [6 thepoint of the cutter blade 24 ,-pierc.ed the end of the can.

Further clockwise rotation of the handle .33 I

ieeds the .can through the device so ,thatthe cutter-blade cuts theend or headfrom the can.

'The'endof the cutter bladeis sufficiently blunt to assure positive traction of thedriving wheel '38 with therim or flange of thecan and .the head '16 has sufiicient resiliency .to permit the cutter blade to be forced away from the driving wheel "38 a-predetermined amount whennecessary, such as when passing the seam of a can. ewe'ig'ht of'the portion of'the plate 26 to the rearoi' the axis of its pivot screw or pin 20, is lsufiiciently greater than that of the front part 01' the .part forwardly of said axis, ft'O cause "the plate to *tend to rotate clockwise, by gravity, on iits'rpivot screw whenin the position illustrated in figure '1. This causes "the "trailing'tooth of the {gear sector 3 to fall back into engagement with tiie rteeth :oft'hegear pinion '31.

-;It-will be :noted that *this plate- 26 is free -to moscillate .sufficiently clockwise on its pivot screw :01 piniflpto -so=rengagethe teeth o'f the gear pinion before the :forward :wing 28 of the plate '26 engages the :head 16. Thus, oncounter-clockwise rotation ofithe .gear pinion 31 the trailing *ltooth of theigear .=sector :31 'will .be i-nmeshed with a teeth of the gear apinion ibefore the forward wingJB lengages thehea'd l6. Counter clockwise mutation ;of (the handle will then :cause the !head plate'arrives at approximately oscillation is eprevented by the engagement :of zthe head :with' the bodyplate IltlLlor the 1 released position,.:as-:shown:in Figure 5. Ifgravityrshould lfailuat .any :time to :cause the trailin .tooth of 'the l-gear sector rto engage with the tooth "of :the gear :pinion when :the handle :is rotated :counter- :cl-o-ckwise, such i'enga-gement :may be positively effected lby-ithelapplication ,of a slight pressure 'onthe :topo'f the :platei'26 at its rear.

11; will be readily apparent that, whereas the gearjsector :plate of the embodiment illustrated in EFigures Sand 7 is :housed lbetweensone'side iporti'ona of the ,=head {16a :and the .'body' plate I 0b, "the operation of ethiscembodiment is exactly the ;same .:as the embodiment illustrated in :Eigures' -.1 to-'5 inclusive and :that the upstanding front and :rear wings 128a and 23a ifunction in :the same niannermas thel depending wing rportions28 and i239 rof ithe :p'laLte 26. If the application of manual pressure .to the rear of thegear sector-plate 26a =is required, .inithe event that the plate fails :to oscillate under :the "action of gravity, it will :be

readily apparent ithat -the :neoessary slight pres- .sure to cause:suchroscillation, may i be applied to the top of fthe win 2 9a ,by awhile ithe i -handle 331; is being turned counterclockwise :by the other hand.

As previously r noted the opener of the =present inwention 21S cdmpact, exceptionally easy :to nperatezandzinexpensive toxmanufa'cture. It will I also ihe 'seenathat scomplete counter-clockwise .osoillationtof the ,cutter :blade is positive in rrelaftion to azrelative turn-ingl of the :operatingZ-handle, :thus assuring positive penetration .of :the rend :or ahead :of the Loan by :the cutter ablade "when the diandl'ei ismotated:and-withoutzany efiortsor; action ion {the :part zof lthe :operator 'other 'fthanithe rturne :ingzof tte handle. Likewisajt willlbeznotedithat :complete :clcckwise roscillation ofthe :cutter.:blade iis1'positivezin relation pto a' -relative turning of "the i handle, ithus :assuring positive return rof the rout- -ter blade toJfulll-release .position :when dshemandle v is :rotated, :and without :any effort :on the apart of the :op erator other than 'the fturning :of 313116 handle ;to-mtateaclockwise-'on its :pivot screw until further wheel"-oarr 'ied by the shaft adjacent -tothe knife for coac'tion with the knife, a gear and '"sector coupling between the shaft and the head for effecting oscillation of the head and the knife to operative or inoperative -pos'ition by clockwise or counter-clockwise turning of "the shaft, and said sector being constructed and arranged *to disengage from the gear upon turning the shaft in one "direction "a predetermined extent for oscillation of the head and kn'i'fe to fully operatire -pos'itio'n, whereby continued turningo'f the shaftnray 'be maintained.

2. Arotaryscan-opener as set forth in claim 1, with means for' -e'ltec'ting reengagemeni; of the gear and sector to oscillate theheadahd'knife to release or inoperative position upon turning "the *shaft in "the -'oppos'ite direction.

d. n rotary man opener compris'ing, a fiat body plate, the plate be'ing disposedia'djacent to -a side of a-can'in theuselof the opener, a guard flange carried by'the-plate at one end, a pair of can rim engaging fingers carried by the plate at opposite sidesthereof and spacedfrom said flange, a head member supported on the plate for oscillation uponan axis passing, transversely therethrough in a plane extending longitudinally of the plate between said fingers, acan top cutting knife carried' by the head in spaced relation with the body plate, ,a shaftrotatably supported by the body plate for turning ,on an axis paralleling the oscillation axis for the head, means for turning the shaft, a can flange engaging driving wheel carried by the shaft adjacent to and for cooperation with the can top cutting knife for turning the can relative to the knife, and a gear and sector coupling between the shaft and the head, the sector being constructed and arranged to disengage frornthe gear upon turning the shaft to a predetermined extent to oscillate the head and knifeto operative position, whereby continued free rotation of the shaft may be maintained.

ALA rotary, can opener' comprising, a body plate-which is disposed at a side of a can in the ,use' of the opener, means carried by the plate forengagement' with the can at the edge of the top for maintaining the body plate in applied position, that edge of the body plate which is positionedadjacent to the 'can edge constituting the top, apivot member secured to and ing said shaft, and means for establishing a driving connection between the shaft and the rock plate upon the turning of the shaft in either of two directions to effect the oscillation of the knife into operative or inoperative position, the said driving means being so constructed and arrangedthat upon oscillation of the rock plate and knife into the operative position for. the

extending transversely of the longitudinal centerofz-the body plate'adjacent the top thereof, a head oscillatably supported upon the pivot membena can top cutting knife carried by the headxand disposed in spaced relation with the body plate-for oscillation relative to the can top when the body plate is in applied position, a

shaft rotatably supported by and extending through the body plate below and parallel with the oscillation axis of said head, a can rim engaging'driving wheel carried by the shaft and disposed adjacent to'the cutting blade for coaction therewith,,a rock plate oscillatably supplished, and means for effecting reengagementv of thesector with the pinion upon turning the shaft in the opposite direction.

-5. A rotary can opener comprising, a body plates, pivot member secured to the body plate, a can head cutting knife oscillatably supported upon the pivot member for. movement in a plane paralleling a side of the body, plate, a shaft extending through and rotatablysupported by the body plate in spaced parallel relation with the pivot member, a canrim engaging driving wheel secured to the shaft andhaving its periphery adjacent to the knife for coaction therewith to effect the turning of a can relative to the knife, a rock plate oscillatably supported on the pivot member, means for establishing an operative connection between the'rock plate and the knife upon oscillation of the rock-plate in either direction upon the pivot'member, means for tum- I tween the rock plate and the head, and means I for establishing a driving connection between knife the driving connection between the 'shaf and rock plate will be disestablished.

6.A"can"opener' as set forth in claim 5, in which said driving connection comprises a gear pinion carried by the shaft, and agear sector carried by the rock plate.

7. A rotary can opener comprising, a body plate, a pivot member carried by the body plate, a head memberoscillatably supported upon the pivot member, a can head cutting knife carried by the head member in spaced parallel relation "with a side of the body plate, a shaft extending through and rotatably supported by the body plate in spaced parallel relation with the pivot member, a can rim engaging driving wheel carried" by the shaft adjacent to said knife for coaction therewithto turn a can relative to the knife, means for turning said shaft, a rock plate osoillatably supported upon the pivot member, spacedwings carried by the rock plate and be-- tween which a portion of said head is positioned whereby oscillation of the rock plate in either direction will establish a driving'connection 'bethe shaft and the rock plate to effect oscillationof the rockpiate and the head upon turning the shaft in either direction said driving means being so constructed and arranged that the said driving connection will be disestablished after the rock plate and head have reached, a predetermind position upon the turning of the shaft in one direction. h 8. A rotary can oneneras set forth in claim '1,

in which the said driving connection between the rock plate and the shaft comprises a pinion ear carried by the shaft, and a gear sector carriedby the rock plate.

9. A rotary can opener as set forth in claim '7, in which the said driving connection comprises a gear pinion carried by the shaft anda gear sector carried bythe rock plate, and means for over-balancin the rockplate toefiect the automat c connect on of the gear and sec or upon the turning of the shaft in theopposite direction.

, 10. A rotary can opener comprising, a plate body. apivot member carried by and extending perpendicular to aside face of the plate body, a head having two angularly related portions, one of said portions being disposed in parallel relation with a side of the plate body and traversed by said pivot-member for oscillation thereon, the

other portion extending across the top edge of the plate body, a can end cutting knife carried by the said other portion of the head in spaced parallel relation with the plate body, a shaft extending through and rotatably supported by the plate body in spaced parallel relation with the pivot member, a can flange engagin driving wheel carried by the shaft adjacent to and for ooaction with said knife toeifect the turning of a can relative to the knife, 3, rock plate oscillatably supported upon the pivot member; a pair of spaced wings carried by the rock plate and between which said headpositions, said wings being selectively operatively coupled with the head upon slight free oscillation of the rock plate whereby the rock plate, head and knife oscillate as a unit to move the knife into and out of operative position with respect to a can head, and means for establishing a driving coupling between said shaft and the rock plate upon the turning of the shaft in either direction, said cupling means being so constructed and arranged that upon the turning of the shaft to a predetermined extent in one direction to oscillate the knife into operative position, the said driving coupling will be broken to permit continued free turning of the shaft and said driving wheel.

11. A rotary can opener as set forth in claim 10, in which the saiddriving means comprises a gear pinion upon said shaft and a gear sector carried by the rock plate.

12. A rotary can opener as set forth in claim 10, in which the said head and knife together form a substantially U shaped structure within which a major portion of the body plate is enclosed, the said other portion of the head lying in relatively close relation to an edge of the body plate and said body plate edge functioning to limit the oscillation of the head beyond the position where the knife is in operative position.

of the said one portion of I 151. A rotary can opener as set forth in claim 13. A rotary can opener as set forth in claim 10, in which the said one portion of the head is interposed between the body plate and the rock plate and the said spaced wings form angular extensions of opposite edges of the rock plate, each of said extensions lying across a side edge the head.

10, in which the said rock plate is interposed between the body plate and the said one portion of the head, and said spaced wings form upward extensions of the rock plate and each extension lies across the said other portion of the head.

15. A rotary can opener as set forth in claim 10, in which the said head is in the form of a substantially U shaped body of which the knife forms one side in spaced parallel relation with the said one portion of the head, and the said pivot member extends through both the knife and the said one portion of the head, and a journal supported upon the pivot member and engaging in a bearing aperture in the knife, said knife having movement upon the journal relative to the said flange engaging driving wheel.

, ROBERT E. MCLEAN. 

